ORLEANS COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE

Code Enforcement Officer II

John C. Welch, Jr.

                       #60-152             Personnel Officer          OPEN COMPETITIVE    

WRITTEN EXAMINATION DATE – May 31, 2008

LAST FILING DATE – May 1, 2008

VACANCIES:    The eligible list which will result from this examination will be used to fill vacancies as they occur in the the Towns and Villages in Orleans County.

SALARY:        Varies with Jurisdiction

RESIDENCE:  Candidates must have been legal residents of Orleans County for at least one month immediately preceding the date of the written test.

DUTIES:  The work involves a high degree of responsibility in planning, initiating and carrying out to completion all inspection activities related to enforcement and compliance of existing building and housing codes and ordinances. Makes inspections of construction and repair of buildings and structures for compliance with the requirements of state and local building, zoning and housing codes and ordinances and enforces the provisions of the regulations as indicated.  The position entails responsibility for the review of the effectiveness of present codes and laws and the recommendation of charges as may be indicated in keeping with modern trends. General direction is received from the Board of Trustees concerning policies and objectives allowing for the exercise of independent judgment and action. Work is checked by review or reports of inspection. The work involves the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code or a local fire and or building code as approved by the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council. A Code Enforcement Officer may supervise a small number of clerical personnel or other lower-level assistants. Does related work as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and must have organizational skills, strong computer skills and the ability to type and take meeting minutes, AND EITHER:

              A)  Associate degree in engineering OR

              B)  Two years of experience in construction. 

NOTE:  It is vital that you submit with your application, all information necessary to show your qualifications for examination.  If your qualifications include a degree, please include an original transcript(s) to your application. 

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the following areas:

              1.  Inspection procedures and principles - These questions test for knowledge of the appropriate practices and methods to use when inspecting various types of building facilities and projects, including proper adherence to plans and codes, dealing with residents, owners and contractors, and inspection record keeping.

              2.  Building construction and rehabilitation - These questions test for knowledge of the various methods and materials used when constructing or renovating various types of buildings and their components.

              3.  Understanding and interpreting building plans and requirements - These questions test for the ability to read, analyze and perform computations based on technical drawings and written technical material related to building facilities and projects. All the information needed to answer the questions will be presented in the written material and/or drawings.

              4.  Building, housing and zoning laws and codes - These questions test for knowledge of, and the ability to apply, provisions of the Building and Residential Codes of New York State (and the portions of other codes applicable to these two codes), and the general concepts of zoning, including related laws and regulations.

              5.  Fire prevention, and understanding and interpreting fire codes - The fire prevention questions test for a knowledge of fire prevention methods, principles, practices, and equipment. These questions cover such areas as: alarms; automatic smoke/fire detectors; automatic sprinklers; standpipes; dealing with building owners and managers; fire hazards; fire prevention education; and inspection of buildings.

The understanding and interpreting fire codes questions test for the ability to comprehend written material related to fire prevention and inspection. All the information needed to answer the questions will be presented in the passages.

              6.  Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

Use of calculators is RECOMMENDED     

  GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Each candidate must execute an application form and file it with the Orleans County Civil Service Office, County Office Building, 14016 Route 31 West, Albion, NY 14411.  Applications should be filed as soon as possible after the announcement of the examination.  In writing for the application form and information, SPECIFY BY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER AND TITLE the position for which you wish to apply.  Before filing your application, BE SURE EVERY QUESTION IS ANSWERED.  AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION MAY BE DISAPPROVED.

2.  Accepted candidates will be notified when and where to appear for examination.  None will be admitted to the examination without official admittance card.  If an applicant is rejected, due notice will be sent.  The Civil Service Office does not make formal acknowledgment of the receipt of an application.  Call the Civil Service Office if you have not received your notice three (3) days before the date of the test.

3.  Unless otherwise stated, all candidates are required to be legal residents of Orleans County for one (1) month immediately preceding the date of examination.  Appointing authorities may give preference to legal residents of their jurisdiction.

4.  For purpose of claiming veteran’s credits on a Civil Service Examination, an applicant must have received an honorable discharge and have served in the armed forces of the United States at any time during the following periods:

World War II - Dec. 7, 1941 - Dec. 31, 1946                      Lebanon - June 1, 1983 - Dec. 1, 1987

Korean Conflict - June 27, 1950 - Jan. 31, 1955             Grenada - Oct. 23, 1983 - Nov. 21, 1983

Viet Nam Conflict – Feb. 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975         Panama - Dec. 20, 1989 - Jan. 31, 1990

Persian Gulf Conflict - August 2, 1990 – to the date upon which such hostilities end (not yet determined)

Credit for Lebanon, Grenada and Panama will be limited to those who received the armed forces expeditionary, the navy expeditionary medal, or the marine corps expeditionary medal.

VETERANS: Any candidate claiming veterans’ credit or disabled veterans’ credit must file with their application for examination a certified copy of their Honorable Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States.  Veterans claiming disability credits must file Form MSD332-VC-3.  All candidates filing veterans’ credits must file form MSD-332-VC-1.

5.  Verification of Qualification:  Candidates may be investigated or called for an interview to determine whether they are qualified for appointment.

6.  PASSING MARK:  Passing mark for examination is 70.

7.  Eligible lists will be established in the order of final rating for successful candidates and will be established for a period of one (1) year unless exhausted prior to that date.  Lists may be extended by the Personnel Officer not to exceed four (4) years.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill present and future vacancies in this title.

ORLEANS COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER!!

  EXAM FEE:  A fee of $20.00 is required for each separate examination for which you apply.  A $20.00 check, money order or cash must accompany the application for examination.  The check is to be made payable to Orleans County Civil Service.  Write the examination title and number on your check or money order.  REFUNDS OF FEES WILL NOT BE ISSUED TO APPLICANTS WHO ARE DISQUALIFIED FOR NOT MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMITTANCE TO THE EXAMINATION OR WHO DO NOT APPEAR FOR TESTING ON THE SCHEDULED TEST DATE.   Therefore, be sure to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements listed and file only for those examinations for which you clearly qualify and intend to take.  We cannot prescreen applications submitted without the fee.

APPLICATION FEE WAIVER: A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household.  In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income Payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance) or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency.  All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification.  If you can verify eligibility for application fee waiver, complete a “Request for Application Fee Waiver and Certification” form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Application Deadline as listed on the Examination Announcement. 

The “Request for Application Fee Waiver and Certification” may be obtained at the Orleans County Department of Personnel, Orleans County Administration Building, 14016 Route 31 West, Albion, NY  14411.  Telephone (585) 589-3184 or (585) 589-2793.

THIS EXAMINATION WILL BE PREPARED AND RATED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVCIE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 23-2 OF THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.  THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW YORK STATE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS DEALING WITH THE PREPARATION AND RATING OF THE EXAMINATIONS WILL APPLY TO THIS EXAMINATION.

APPLICATIONS: Information and applications may be obtained at the Department of Personnel, Orleans County Administrative Building, 14016 Route 31 West, Albion, NY 14411.  Telephone 589-3184 or 589-2793.  If you wish to have an application mailed to you, send a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Examination to be held at the Albion High School, 302 East Avenue, Albion, NY  14411.

APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVCIE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE SCHEDULED ON SAME DATE - If you have applied for any other Civil Service examinations for employment with New York State or any other local government jurisdiction, you must make arrangements to take all your examinations at one test site.  If you have applied for both State and Local government examinations, you must make arrangements to take all your examinations at the State examination center by calling (518) 474-6470 no later than two weeks before the test date.

If you have applied for other local government examinations, call or write to each civil service agency to make arrangements.  You must make your request for these arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examinations.  You must notify all local government civil service agencies with whom you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examination.  For this examination call (585) 589-3184 or (585) 589-2793 or write to Orleans County Personnel Office, 14016 Route 31 West, Albion, NY  14411.

APPLICANTS:  Please contact this office five (5) days prior to the examination if you have not been notified by us, as to your eligibility to participate in this examination.

Religious Accommodation – Most written tests are held on Saturdays.  If you cannot take the test on the announced test date due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation”.  We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following business day).

Disabled Candidates – If special arrangements for testing are required, indicate this on your application form.

Military Members - Candidates who are called to military service after filing an application should send written requests for an alternate test date to Orleans County Personnel Office as soon as possible before the test date.

Applications must be postmarked or filed by the closing date for filing for this examination.  CANDIDATES MUST RECORD THE EXAMINATION NUMBER AND TITILE ON THE APPLICATION.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES

Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held, solar or battery powered calculators.  Devices with typewriter keyboards, Spell checkers, Personal Digital Assistants, Address Books, Language Translators, Dictionaries, or any similar devices are prohibited.

                                                                      John C. Welch, Jr.

                                                                      PERSONNEL OFFICER

ISSUED:  4/07/2008

ORLEANS COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER!!